Accelerator for dry pipe valve sprinkler systems



May 19,'1931. l E. TYDEN '11,805Q858- AccELERAToE EOE DRY PIPE VALVE SPEINKLER sYsTEMs Filed oct. s, 192e 2 sheets-sheet 1 E. TYDEN 1,805,858 4Accmmszrwron FOR DRY PIPE 4VALVE SPRINKLER sYs'TEMs May 19,V 1931.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001'.. 5. 1928 Patented May 19, 1931 r Lacasse UNITED STATES PATENT?--Y'Y'OFFCEj EMIL TYEEN, DE HAsTINGs, MICHIGAN AccEmEEAron. EoEnrrs-r` PIPE VALVE sEEiNkLEE; VsYsrrEivrsk Y l Applicatie; filed oetoberjs, 192s. K' serial 'No'.-eoaeoa The purpose of this invention is to provide anv'improved' construction in the appurtenance of a dry pipe sprinklersystem, commonly cal-ledy the accelerator,` being f the -elel5 ment ofan apparatus by Which the ire extinguishing operation of the apparatus is hastened When'decline .of pressure in the" air pressure region of the system indicatesthe opening ofthe sprinklerhead and thereby l0 the presencev of fire, the specific purpose Vof the presentinvention being to prevent the accumulation of'water inthe chambers of the accelerating apparatus under certain conditions under Which such accumulation is liableto occur in the constructions hitherto commonly employed. lIt consists in the elements and featuresof construction shovvn' and -described, as indicated inthe claims'.

In the drawings z-f if Figure lis diagrammatic viewfor showing the relative location of the accelerator appurtenancesl Withl respect to the vdry pipe valve body and pipe leading tothe sprinkler system. f

' 25 Figure 2 is a section on an enlarged scale through the accelerator in the plane of the axis of the duct through which the pressure from the air pressure region of thesystem has access to the accelerator chambers.l Figure 3 isfa section the line 3-3 on Figure 2;

Figure 4L. is a section' lat the 4linee- 4f` on FigureQ.' H ,a Y It fis customary in'installing a dry pipe i sprinkler system, When the same is fully con'- nected to the sprinkler heads; for testing it kout as to completeness and safety ofall, the connections, to admit the Water from the Wa- O ter main and allow the system,y including the Water Without first introducing air under compression to the air pressure region of the system. In thus testing the system which is equipped with an accelerating apparatus of the eXhauster type,-that is, in which the opening of the main valve for admitting the Water to the system is hastened .by means operating to. freely vent the air pressure from the air pressure regiom as distinguished from the method'consisting in equalizingthe `operation of the system.y

air pressure region thereof, to be filledy With.

"the main valvefftlie Water obtains access to certain chambersand passages of the acceler- Y ator, from which itis excluded in the proper In the hithertocustomary forms if-these devices having a chamberprovided'withadiaphragm partition atgvvhoseopposite sides different pressures operate for causing 'thejdial phragm to actuatethemeans for venting the air pressure region,the constructiony and arrangement are such that the diaphragm eX- tends in a vertical plane with the Vcoinpartments `at opposite sides of -the diaphragm also extending vertically, and :by reasony of this and'other features'in these constructions it hasbeen found kimpracticable to`.provide means for draining the chamberand passages A of the water thus inpportunely admitted to them, or .even to ascertain thats'uch'is the condition, without disassemblinga considerable part of thestructure.l Audit has been liable to happen that the Water thus unknowingly admitted may freeze 'and burst, or other- Wisev damage the structure. i Y The purpose of the present invention is to obviate this "defect ofthe former constructions by providing 'means preventingthe Water from being trapped or-i'nfanymanner retained in any passages or cavities of the acceleratorfand to 'accomplish this vpurpose yWithout impairing the operation ofan accelerator. of the type "operatedfby differential pressures resulting at opposite sides of the *system obtains access to theaccelerator chambers'and through Whichvvater Wouldgain like access, when the accelerator has-opened'this valve rfor .itsrpurpose' of ,causing the main valve tofbe opened for admitting Water to the air pressure region; but in the preliminary testing of .the apparatus by flushing the sysy'air pressureon` both sides'of the Water main n y tem this valve is not certain to be operated for closing; partly because. the system comprises a pipe through which pressure is communicated for operating the valve-closingl means,-which pipe has a drain cock which is closed in the normal set-up of the apparatus for Vits purpose, but which is liable to be opened in the preliminary testing, for the purpose of testing the pipe in question; and this in part creates the possibility of the accelerator chambers beingl filled with water in the preliminary testing, which is in part the reason for the present invention.

The construction of the apparatus as a whole, and particularly as comprising the means of access of water to the accelerator chambers, and the valve for automatically closing the passage in the normal operation of the construction, should be understood for proper understanding of the presentinvention which constitutes an improvement upon this construction; and said construction is shown in a general way in the drawings and will now be described.

` In the drawings, X vrepresents the main body of the casing of the dry pipe valve for which there is provided an accelerating device indicated as to the casing members at A. and B,-and connection to the air pressure region of the system, and is shown and connected also With the main valve cavity above the water-controlling valve therein by a pipe, D. Certain further connection is shown between the accelerating device andthe water pressure region of the v`system consisting 4of ka pipe, 20, which is provided with yadrain cock, 21 which is closed in the normal setup of the apparatus for its purpose, andthrough which `pipe pressure is communicated fer operating the valve above referred to, and hereinafter particularly mentioned, for closing the `communication with the accelerator chambers to prevent the access of water thereto, which function,-of `closing said valve-is prevented if the drain cock is opened inthe prel-iminary testing of the apparatus as above mentioned.

' Without going further into details with respect to the connections, it maybe `understood from the drawings that by a pipe, d, leading from the pipe, D, the air pressure of the sys- `tern obtains access to the accelerator chambers which are connected and provided with devices which operate for opening a valve which controls a free vent to the vatmosphere by a portshown at 4() in Figure 1, yand indicated in dotted line in Figure 2; and that, in the yabsence of preventing means, when the lsystem 'becomes occupied with water instead which passage the air pressure of the system obtains access in the normal operation of the construction, and means for closing said valve when the conditions arise under which water might follow the air into these chambers.

The means for closing the valve when the apparatus lis operating for fire-extinguishing, so that the air pressure region of the `System is occupied by water, are shown in the drawings, and may be briefly described as consisting of -a diaphragm, 31, which is exposed to pressure of the water which enters the system, following up the vair upon venting the air pressure region for bringing the apparatus into fire extinguishing service, saidwater pressure yreaching the diaphragm, 31, through the pipe, 20, above mentioned, and actuating a plunger, 32, into encounter with the stem, 61, of .the valve, 60, forcing `and holding said valve to its seat.

This construct-ion is full-y shown and described in pending applica-tion Serial No. 196,732, filed June 6, 1927, and accomplishes the purpose of excluding the water from V.the accelerator chambers when :the system is operating for lire extinguishing; but, as aboveexplained, when the water is-admittedto the system for testing the connections before -t-he system has been connected for charging the -air pressure region with air under pressure, the 1conditions are not certain to be such as toinsure the `closing of `the valve because the operator will frequently neglect to close the drain cock, 21, or may purposely leave lit open for .testingthe drainage; and thus water pressure through the pipe, 20 for closing the valve,i6@, will be prevented. Andnot only in such preliminary testing but in the normal operation of the apparatus when the ,system is filled with water discharging at the sprinlrler heads for iire extinguishment, the valve, '60, may fail to close completely, and :the accelerator chambers .are .thus vliable to become accumulate therein, as hereinafter explained;

.and the acceleration chambers are arranged so that they are all above the sump chamber .and said accelerator chambers, and all connecting passages are arranged'so that they will be completely drained by gravity, that is,

so .that there are no trapspaces in which waterV may be left behind in the gravity drainage of 4the apparatus into the sump chamber.

In the construction shown in the drawings the accelerator Vunit is made to comprise two cast members, A and B, the member, A, y.con-

` a chamber, 111, to which fluid pressure from v '25 the duct, 101,-has access -by way of a duct,`

taining the sump chamber mentioned, indicated at 100, and the member, B, being mounted above the member, A, containing the accel` erator chambersv and passages.

In the castmember, A, at the sidev of the sump chamber toward the valve, 60, there is formed an ample duct, 101, for communication of' fluid pressure to the upper end of the member, A, and between said member, A, and the member, B, which, as stated, is mounted on the top of the member, A, there is provided by a recess in the under sideof the member, B, a chamberwh'ich is partitioned. into two compartments, 103 and 104, by a flexible diaphragm, 105. To vthe lower compartment, 103, free access of fluid pressure from the duct, 101, is aforded through ample ports, 106, in a plug fitting, 110, which is screwed through the top web of the member, A, at the opposite side of the horizontally extending upper end portion, 101% of the duct,'101. And there is formed in said upper member, B, above the diaphragm-partitioned chamber,

112, in the member, B, which registers at its lower end with a port, 113, through the upper web of the member, B, leading from the duct,

101, of which theduct, 112, thus becomes an extension. Said duct, 112, communicatesfat ,p its upper end vwith the chamber, 111, by a passage, 114, in which'v there is interposed a restriction fitting, 115, whose port of fluid. iow,

117, is very small relatively to the crosssection chamber, v111, and the compartment, 104,A

of the duct, 101, by which the fluid pressure obtains access, as above described, to the compartment, 103, below the diaphragm, 105.

Fluid pressure communication between the above the diaphragm is provided through a diaphragm guard, 120, which is interposed in the recessy in the'under side of the castingl member, B', above the diaphragm,said diaphragm guard havingfa central stem, 121, which is fitted fluidetight in an aperture formed for that purpose in the web of the cast-ing forming the bottom of the chamber, 111, said stem, 121, being axially chambered to receive and seat a stem, 122,0f the diaphragm. This stem isfhexagonal in cross section, its slide bearing in the stem of the diaphragm guard being cylindrical so that there is afforded fluid passages along the dia.- phragm stem through the stem of the da` phragm guard from the chamber, 111, to the compartment, 104, above the diaphragm.

For ensuring that the diaphragm, 105, shall be held normally flexedV upwardly in its cham;- ber to afford range for its downward moves ment in the enlargement of thecompartment, 103, consequent on the lowering of the pressure transmitted through the duct, 101, sutilcient for the accelerating function for which the construction is providedthere is mounted in the plug fitting,` 110, a plunger, 125,

stressed upwardly Vby a spring, 126, 'against thek diaphragm, the 'springbeing initially conditioned for Vsuitably upholding the diaphragm under the normal condition in the be understood, is calculated to serve the purposev of differential pressure access to and from the opposite sides ofL the diaphragm, 105, for the purpose of causing movementof the diaphragm to follow any lowering of the pressure in the air pressure region of the sysof the water main valve. For .this purpose the present construction comprises Va lever,

135, connected for actuation by :the "dia-y phragm stem, as seen at 136saidleverfextending liquid-sealed, as seen at 137, out of the chamber, 111, for engaging a latch, 138, on a weighted lever, 139, which 1s fulcrumed outside the member, C', and conditioned for rocking over its fulcrum by the fallingo its Weighted end when the latch, 138, is released by the action of the diaphragm under thev exc-ess of pressure in the chamber, 111, over tem, for operating means for quick venting of said air pressure and consequent opening n the pressure `at the under side of the dia?" phragm. And said lever has a pin, 140, which in the falling movement of the lever engages Y the hooked end, 141, of a. rod, 142, which extendsfup along the routside of the member, A, at the opposite side Vfrom the duct,v101, said rod having its lower end pivotally attached tol a' latch, 144, whichis pivoted at the lower end of the member, B, saidlatch, 144, being arranged to engage and uphold the weighted lever, V'150 which, when released,vdrops its weighted end, rocking aboutits pivot atfthe opposite end, and operates Athe connections y for venting the pressure regions 'of the system which are ofa familiar character as seen in the drawings and require no further descriptlon here.'

Returning to the construction'fin the'meml ber, B, which constitutes the present invention,`it will be observed that th'ediaphragm guard,'120, at its upper side, and the member, B, at its under side 'overhanging the dia;- phragin guard, are co-operatively recessed as seen at 150, 151, to form an annular cha1n-y ber or passage;and that the member, B, has

`a pluralityT o1 ports, 152, affordingv ample fluid flow fromy the chamber, 111, to said annular'p'assage; and that there is provided in said member, B, a free flow passage, 155', communicating with said annular passage at the lowestpoint ofthe latter, said passage, 155,v

having a free discharge by port, 156, in the bottom web of the member, B, registered with the port, 157, leading into the sump cha-1n'- ber, 100,- at the upper side of said chamber;V

iio

-iao y sage, 155, andthe port, 157, into the closedV sump chamber, y100, Which, it will. be unnerstood, is normally filled with air at atmospheric pressure, so that said sump chamber constitutes an air trap in Which in the norma] operation of the apparatus tor acceleration the air will be compressed to the full degree of the pressure operating in the chamber, 111. s

It will be observed that the stem of the diaphragm guard, 120, protrudes up into the chamber, 111, a substantial distance above the bottom of said chamber through which the ports, 152, lead for gravity flow of the Water toward the sump chamber; and upon consideration it Will be seen that the gravity out flow from the chamber, 111, will be much more rapid as it is much more free, than the inflow through the port of the restriction fitting, 115, so that the Water Will never accumulate in the bottom of the chamber, 111. so high as the upper end of the stem oi the diaphragmk guardgand consequently Water Will never get access to the passages around the diaphragm stem to the compartment, 104, above the diaphragm. 1t will be seen, therefore, that there is no chamber or passage in the construction in which Water arriving through the duct, 101, can be trapped or retained; and that this result is accomplished Without sacriiicing or impairing in `anyT respect the primary function of the apparatus for accelerating the lire-extinguishing operation by diilerential pressures at opposite sides of the diaphragm, 105. .it will be understood that the Water in the compartment, 103, below the diaphragm obtains free outflow by gravity through the ports through which it enters; and that the duct, 101, intorvhich this outflow below the diaphragm occurs will be emptied by 'gravity iloiv in the usual drainage of the system, after its operation for lire extinguishnient, p-rei'iaratory to resetting, and inthe drainage after ilooding igor testing as mentioned.v Y

It will be seen upon referenceto the drawings that the members, A and B, are connected together with the ports,r156'and 15T, registered With each other for fluid flow, as described, into the sump chamber, and With the port, 113, of the member, A, registered with` the lewe-rend of the duct, 112, of the member, Bfthe registered Yports being connected by coupling bushings, 163 and 164e, respectively, securing said members, A and B, in position with their respective ports thus registered. i

1t will be understood from-the drawings that for protecting the operating connections from the diaphragm, 105, tothe drop lever, 150, including the several latch connections,

there is provided a cover plate, C, which is,

applied over said connections and secured to the members, A and B, in any suitable, convenient manner as indicated by bolts, 162.

1 claim 1. in a fire extinguishing apparatus which comprises a sprinkler system having a construction for accelerating the action for admitting Water to the sprinkler system characterized by a casing structure containing a chamber and passages affording chamber communication With the fluid pressure region of the system and having a movable element arranged to derive movement from change in the pressure derived from said fluid pres sure region, the casing containing also a ciosed air chamber, the iirst mentioned chainber having a port of discharge into said closed air chamber at the upper part ofthe latter; means in the first mentioned passages restrict-V ing iniioW to the iirst mentioned chamber relatively to the discharge flow therefrom to the second chamber, said first mentioned chamber and passages thereof to said discharge port being continuously dimensioned for free liquid flow relative to the restriction, and the course of said chamber and passages being continuously downward from the restriction to the discharge port, for preventing accumulation and trapping of liquid in said chamber and passages. v

2. 1n the construction defined in claim 1, the casing structure containing a third chamber located in the lower part of the first mentioned chamber, and having fluid pressure communication With the latter at a substantial distance above the bottom thereof, and having at one side a Wall member constituting the movable element mentioned in claim 1 Which is movable for expanding and reducing said chamber, said Wall member' being eXteriorly exposed to the'pressure of the air pressure region of the system, the passage through Which said 'pressure has access to said movable Wall member being large relatively to that by which said pressure has access to the first mentioned chamber, and connections by Which said movable Wall member controls the acceleration of the lire extinguishing operation of the apparatus.

3. In the construction defined in ciairn 1, the closed air chamber constituting a sump chamber occupying the lower part of the structure and Without communication other than the port mentioned With any other part of the apparatus,.said sump chamber being provided With means for draining the Water which may accumulate therein.

4. In the construction defined in claim 1, the movable element being a Wall member of the first mentioned chamber, said passages including a duct affording communication from the air pressure region of the system both to the irst mentioned chamber and to the outer side of said movable wall member,

the latter connection being relatively unre- Y strcted, y

t 5. In the construction defined in claim l, the casing structure containing a third chamber llocated inthe lower part of the first mentioned chamber and havingliuid pressure communication with the latter at a substantial distance above the bottom thereof, and having at'its lower'sde a substantially horizontal wall member constituting the movable member mentioned" in claim l which is movable for expanding and reducingthe chamber capacity, said wall member being exposed at its under side to the pressure of the air pressure region of the system, the passage through which said pressure has access to said movable wall being large relatively to that by which said pressure has vaccess to the irst mentioned chamber, an operating stein from said movable wall member eXtendpassageways aording communication between said chambers respectively and the iiuid pressure region of the system, and means in said passages of communication with the first chamber to restrict said communication relatively to the communication of saidpressure region with th-e second chamber; the

combination of a closed air chamber conf tained in said casing structure, means establishing communication between said first chamber and the closed air chamber at the upper part of the latter, the restricting means in the passages to the iirst chamber being dimensioned for restricting inilow to said chamber relativelyto the discharge flow there-4 from to the closedair chamber, the first mentioned chamber and the means of communication between the same and the closed, air chamber beingV dimensioned throughout the course ofow from saidrst chamber to said f closed air chamber or liquidilow free rela` tively to the restricted flow permitted by the restricting means, and said course being continuously downward from said restriction to the closed air chamber, for preventing the trappingl of liquid in said first chamber.

7 In the construction dened in claim 6,

a sub-chamber which forms the lower part of the first mentioned chamber 'and of which one side wall is formed theimovable wall l member, said sub-chamber having Huid pressure communication with said irst mentioned chamber at a substantial distance above the bottom of the latter, and operating connections by which said movable wall member controls the acceleration of the lire extin-k guishing operation of the apparatus. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto'set my hand at Chicago, Illinois, Vthis 29th `day oli September, 1928.

. l EMIL TYDEN. 

